What do you get when you cross a jet with a boat and put it in a narrow canyon? Just ask more than 3 million people who have tried the Shotover Jet in Queenstown, New Zealand.

The famous jet boat trip really is an amazing blend of technology, adrenaline and skill. The bright red boats roar through the narrow walls of Shotover Canyon in inches of water.

The ferocious water jets propel the special boats to more than 52 miles per hour. But it seems more like 100 with rocky outcroppings coming within inches of your face.

Of course, they’ve been doing it for more than 50 years. Shortly after the invention of the jet unit by New Zealander Bill Hamilton, the Melhop brothers started the world’s first commercial jet boating on the Shotover River in 1960.

When Shotover Jet began operating in 1970, it was one of Queenstown’s first adventure activities and it has gone on to become one of New Zealand’s biggest visitor attractions.

Since then, the company has developed bigger, safer boats. In 2002, Shotover Jet built a new fleet of twin engine jet boats to replace its single engine boats.

Built right in Queenstown, the jet boats have been designed specifically to handle the Shotover River Canyons. The Big Red boats are powered by two Buick V6 supercharged engines producing 520 horsepower. Propulsion, steering and control is provided through two Hamilton 212 Jet Units thrusting 200 gallons of water per second.

Less than a 10-minute drive from Queenstown, Shotover Canyon is a spectacular canyon carved out by a fast-moving river. Combine this rugged beauty with some high technology and you get what’s billed as “the world’s most thrilling jet boat ride.”

They certainly got my vote. The 25-minute experience proves they are masters of these unique watercraft.

The outgoing drivers seem to relish their jobs, pushing the jet boats to the limits. Sitting beside the driver in the front seat, it seemed like the driver was aiming for the towering canyon walls.

At the very last second, he would flick his wrist and the boat would skim along the sheer rock face. Other times, he would barely clear a big boulder.

And the crystal clear water allowed passengers to see how terribly shallow the river was in places. But with no propellers and no keel, these beasts only need centimeters of water to operate. The jet boats can even brake and reverse using deflectors similar to a jet aircraft.

Our driver had a great time slewing the boat from one wall to the other. He would throw in a lot of bank as he carved through the sharp turns in the canyon.

We learned to use the shock absorbing handrails in front of us. And we came to appreciate the individually molded seating, especially the padding.

And the people in the back row found out why everyone was given full-length spray jackets to wear, even though it didn’t look like rain.

Turns out, the Red Jet Boats can turn 360 degrees in one boat length. In the blink of the eye, we would be facing the other direction.

And if the driver chopped the power, a mini tsunami would wash over the back of the boat. Coool! And we don’t just mean the temperature of the mountain water.

Soon everyone was watching the driver closely to see if he raised his arm in a circular motion. With that simple warning, he would spin the boat 360 degrees and continue on without losing any speed.

The company will carry children 3 to 4 years, but all must be at least 3 feet tall to ride in the jet boat. Children aged 10-15 can travel unaccompanied as long as a parent or guardian is on-site, but children any younger must travel with a parent or guardian.

And the company has a large viewing deck for any family member who wants to sit out the adventure. Shuttles return travelers to Queenstown every 15 minutes.

If you feel the need for speed while you’re in New Zealand, check out the Shotover Jet Boats. Who else would combine jets with boats and drive them down a river canyon?

For more information, see the website at www.shotoverjet.com. Cost is $129 NZ for adults 16 and up, $69 for children 5 to 15.